Call for Applications for Screenwriters and Producers to Participate in a Media for Social Change Workshop

Brief Background

Current political, economic, and health crises have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning Lebanese and non-Lebanese residents are facing the most difficult period they have seen since the end of the Lebanese Civil War (1990). Social isolation, drug abuse, suicide, and limited access to basic needs, educational and social services like healthcare and protection are common now, especially for vulnerable and marginalized groups such as youth, refugee women and children, migrant domestic workers, the LGBTQI+ community, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Interpersonal relationships, both familial and social, are also deteriorating due to increases in domestic violence, cyber-violence, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Consequently, and in order to help reduce SGBV, improved access to quality SGBV prevention and response services shall be done in close partnership with existing national and governmental frameworks to ensure the sustainability of the national system for SGBV prevention and response.

Moreover, and since the media is one of the main channels through which public opinion is formed, it is responsible not only for bringing attention to the issues facing women, girls, vulnerable and marginalized groups but also for influencing public opinion on matters such as violence against those groups. The role of media in defining and reinforcing social norms is significant in Lebanon as in any other place, and minor shifts in narratives of television programming and films may open the door to broader changes in perceptions and attitudes, leading to an enabling environment for community members to be able to discuss violence openly.

Project Description 

Search in partnership with ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality (ABAAD) is implementing the UK AID DIRECT-funded Toward a Gender-Equitable Society project. The project aims at breaking gender stereotypes and helping reduce SGBV, including intimate partner violence and child marriage. To do so, Search and ABAAD will work on 1) improving the access to and delivery of quality SGBV prevention and response services through ABAAD’s Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) program, Mid-Way Houses (MWH) and the Mobile Unit Interventions, and 2) shifting the cultural and social norms related to SGBV and traditional gender norms through a media component.

About ABAAD - Resource Center for Gender Equality

ABAAD is a non-profit, non-politically affiliated, non-religious civil association that aims to achieve gender equality as an essential condition to sustainable social and economic development in the MENA region. ABAAD seeks to promote women's equality and participation through policy development, legal reform, and gender mainstreaming, engaging men, eliminating discrimination and advancing and empowering women to participate effectively and fully in their communities. ABAAD also seeks to support and collaborate with civil society organizations that are involved in gender equality programs and advocacy campaigns.

Call for Participation

Search and ABAAD are inviting screenwriters and producers to apply to engage in project activities, including a series of training aiming at building an understanding of gender notions, capacities to leverage media messaging to induce social change, as well as individual capacities, and networks. Those who will be selected in the pre-qualification phase (see application form below) will then be invited for interviews to understand more specifically their interest in the project and their experiences.

The submission requirement for the pre-qualification round is to complete the below online application form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaxd30ZE5LP86wmY4NwQhY-wbrplnn...

Selection Criteria

The applicant should:

• Candidates should demonstrate that their values and missions align with the project goal (commitment to human rights including social justice, non-discrimination and gender diversity, equity, and equality);
•  Candidates should be able to demonstrate that they  will place a high value on the inclusion of characters from a full spectrum of diversities in their work (physical abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities, ethnicities, class, race, religion, etc.);
• Have a focus on the following key areas of interest: human rights, social justice, gender equality, women’s protection and empowerment, conflict transformation, etc.;
• Be a screenwriter or a producer;
• Be living in Lebanon;
• Have a bachelors' degree (or attending) in any topic related to filmmaking, screenwriting, audiovisual, etc., or demonstrate at least three (3) years of relevant experience.

Roles and Responsibilities

• To participate in a training on gender & sexual and gender-based violence;
• To participate in a 5-day Media for Social Change Workshop, 8 hours per day, followed by coaching sessions;
• To participate in coordination and follow-up meetings with the project team and the coach; and
• To participate in any other learning and development opportunity offered by the project.
• Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable promoting strong safeguarding practices, understanding the child safeguarding policy and procedures.